Timer.



W. F. MINOR.

TIMER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 1912.

' 1,072,973, I v Patented Spt. 9,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES INVENTOI? momma Fga.

W. P. MINOR.

TIMER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 1912.

wlmsssss Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS i i a run STnTEd FATENT oer-ice.

WILLIAM F. MINOR, OF NEW YQRK, N. Y.

TIMER.

Specification or Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

Application tiled fiovember 7, 3912. Serial No. 729,993.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM Fflilmon, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of the city'of New York,borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have inventeda new and Improved Timer, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

lhis invention relates to improvements in timing devices, and has for anobject to provide an improved structure designed to be set so as tocause the operation of a signal at certain spaced intervals, and in acertain way.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a timing device adaptedto be used in sports and; contests of various kinds where a limited timeis allowed for the preparation, and a limited time is allowed for theexecution or for the contest, the device automatically measuring offthese respective times in succession and thereby obviating any chargethat the judge of the events may not be fair or correct in his timing ofthe contestants.

A further object of the invention more specifically is the provision ofan improved construction of contacts and signaldevices associated with aclock mechanism, whereby the clock mechanism will cause the contactswhich control the signal devices to be opened and closed at certainintervals regularly without the intervention or assistance 0t anoperator.

In carrying out the objects of the invention, a suitable housing of anydesired kind mg the invention it is aimed to provide a is'provided, inwhich a clock mechanism is mounted. Connected with the clock mechanismare a plurality of switches or contact members operated in certainpredetermined relationship to each other, the operating parts beingconnected with the clock mechanism and driven thereby at a certainspeed. Connected with these switches or contact members are a pluralityof signal devices which areoperated when the switches or contacts areclosed. As the contacts are operated by means connected with the clockit will be seen that the signals will be 0p m erated at certain spacedintervals and for a mechanism is in working or er.

certain length of time as lon as: the clock In addition to thisautomatic working mechanism, a manually operated switch is provided for66 throwing an electrical switch into connection with the clockmechanism so that the slgnai connected therewith may be operated acertain number of times according to the length of time the manuallyoperated switch structure is set or being held in a predeterminedposition. This last mentioned switch and associated parts is designed tocause a proper operation of a counting signal adapted to operate atcertain intervals, as for instance once each second. When the manuallyoperated switch is moved or depressed, the electric switch associatedtherewith is immediately operated by the clock mechanism for causing thecounting signal to operate and this'electrical switch is operatedsuccessively each second as long as the manually operated switch isdepressed so that an desired number of seconds may be signale or countedcii.-

A' practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters 0t reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention, thehousingbeing shown open and the device ready for operation; Fig. 2' is alongitudinal vertical section through the clock mechanism shown in Fig.1, and associated parts; Fig. 3 is a section through Fig. 2'approximately 011- the line 33; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of thewiring, signal mechanism,-elec 1 trical switches, and associated partsof the 1 structure shown in Fig. 1.

In the construction of the device embodysignal device to be used forsports and in games of various kinds where certain events are adapted tobe timed. In carrying out this idea, a signal gong or bell is provideddesigned to be sounded or rung an appreciable time just immediatelybefore starting a contest, and also the same gong is adapted to be rungor sounded immediately at the closeof the contest. In order toallow thecontcmants to get ready, 2. signal device, preferably a buzzer, isprovided adapted to operate a certain time before a gong is sounded, asfor instance ten seconds. This will give the contestants time to get inposition so as to start immediately the gongbcgins to sound. Under somecircumstances it is desired to mark oif a comparatively short period oftime and to too indicate the number of seconds a particular eventrequires. In order to provide a device for accomplishing this purpose, amagnetically operated hammer is provided, designed to strike the signalgong successively at stated intervals. This counting device is caused tobe operated by suitable mecha' nism associated with a clock so that thehammer will strike at certain intervals. However, in order to cause thehammer to count only when desired, a manually operated switch isassociated with the connections arranged adjacent the clock, thismanualy operated switch mechanism controlling the connections in orderthat the counting device will only operate when the manually operatedswitch is moved to a certain position and held in that position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates ahousing of'any desired kind, in which the mechanism em-.

bodying the invention is mounted. Arranged in the housing 1 ,is a'clockmechanism 2 of any desired-construction. Associated with the clockmechanism 2 and arranged preferably in the lid 3, are a plurality ofsignal devices, namely a gong and counting signal 5, and a buzzer 6. Thedetail constructions of these mechanism or devices are of any usual orpreferred kind and operate in the ordinary manner, so that no additionaldescription thereof willbe necessary. These devices are connected to therespective binding posts 7, 8 9, 10,11, and 12, arranged at oneend ofthe housing 1, and the binding posts. are connected to various switchmechanisms hereinafter fully described, and also a battery, as moreclearly shown in Fig. 4. Referring more particularly to Fig. 4, 1 3 and14 indicate feed wires connected to any suitable. electrical'supply,these wires being connected to binding posts 15 and 16, mounted at anysuitable point on the housing "11" The binding post 15 is connectedthrough wire 17 to one contact of switch'18, and the other contact ofthe switch 18 is connected to binding post 8 through. wire 19. Thebinding posts 7 and 8 are connected to the opposite sides of the gongstructure 4 so that when current is impressed on its binding posts thegong 4 will be actuated. Binding post 7 has connected therewith wire20,-

which is connected to a contact 21, preferably a resilient contact,which is adapted to engage successively the projections 23 and 24 on arotary member 25. 'The rotary member 25 is rigidly secured to an axle26, to which also a rotary member 27 is rigidly secured, dprovided with,extensions 28 and 29 arrange in almost axial alinement with theextensions 23 and 24. The members 25 and 27, and also the shaft 26 areformed of metal and are therefore rounded on the frame 30 of the clock2. y this construction and arrangement when current passes I suming thatthe member 25 will rotate once every four minutes, the time that thecontact 23 is in engagement with eitherof the projections 23 or 24 willbe short, probably not more than six to eight seconds. The projections23 and 24 may be set any desired distance apart, as .for instance at a90 angle. Assuming that the member 25 rotates once in ever four minutes,this will cause an interval 0 one minute between the sounding of thegong 4, and then an interval of three minutes, followed by an intervalof one minute, which in turn is followed by an interval of threeminutes, and so on, as long as switch 18 is closed and clock l2 isoperating. In locating the member 27 on the shaft 26, the projections 28and 29 are set slightly out of alinement with the pro jections 23 and'24 so as to engage contact 32 a short time before either of theprojections'23 or '24 engage contact 22, in order thatapreliminarysignal will be sounded. Preferably the contact 28 on member27 is set so as tomove out of engagement with the contact 32substantially simultaneously with the engagement of contact 22 withprojection '23, the shaft 26 and members carried 'therebymoving in thedirection of the arrow shown in Fig. 4. -When contact 32 is. inengagement with either of the projections 28 or 29, current will flowfrom binding post 15, through wire 33 to one of the binding posts ofswitch 34. From switch 34 the current will pass through wire 35, tobinding post 12, and from binding post 12 to buzzer 6, back to bindingpost 11. From binding post 11 current will pass over wire 26 to contact32, either of the pro jections 28 or 29 according to which is inengagement with contact 32, shaft 26, frame 30, wire 31, and from thenceto the source of power, to binding post 16. From this construction andarrangement it will be seen that the buzzer 6 will cause a preliminarysignal to be sounded when contact 32 engages the extension 29, and assoon as this preliminary signal has ceased, the gong 4 will sound asthecircuittherefor has been closed by the contact 22 engaging extension24. As shaft 26 rotates, the contact will be broken between members 22and 32, and pro ections 29 and 24. If shaft 26 is rotatlng at the rateof once every four minutes,

there will be a one minute interval, and their the buzzer. 6 will soundfor a short time, after which gong 4 will sound for about the same time.After gong 4 has sounded, contact 22wi1l have-passed the extension 23and the signal mechanism will not operate again for a space of threeminutes, or until contact 32 engages extension 29. .XIt will be evidentthat the shaft 26 couldi'be made to rotate faster or slower, as

desired, and the extensions 28 and 29, and also the extensions 23 and24, could be arranged either closer together or farther apart, withoutdeparting from the spirit of' the invention. K I

\Vhen it is desired to count off anydesired number of seconds, or anyother desired number ofspaced intervals, a third device is caused tooperate, namely the count-mg device In order to operate this countingdevice, a thumb member 37 '(Fig. 2) is depressed, which will movepivotally a spring pressed lever 38. The lever 38 is normall held in a.predetermined position by a spring 39 so that the end 40 will normallybe in the path of movement of the pin 41 which is rigidly secured togear wheel 42. The gear wheel 42 carries a squirrel cage pinion, 43meshing with the gear wheel 44. The gear wheel 44 carries a plurality ofspaced stops 45 which act in the capacity of contactmembers i' orcontacting with a resilient contact 46 (Fig. 3).

\Vhen the member 37 is depressed it will. raise end 40 of lever 38 aslever 38 is pivotally mounted at 47 to frame 30 so that the end 40 willbe elevated or movedout of the path-of, movement of the stop 41. Thiswill leave gear wheel 42 free to rotate under the action of a'driv'ingspring 48. The driving spring 48 has one end connected with the frame 30and the opposite end connected with shaft42, which shaft in turn isrigidly secured to a gear wheel 50. The gear wheel 50 meshes with asquirrel cage pinion 51 secured to shaft 52. The gear wheel 44 is alsorigidlysecured toshaft 52 so that whenever spring. 48 is permitted tooperate, the wheel 44 will be rotated. The wheel 44 meshes with pinion48, which pinion is rigidly secured to a shaft- 'carrying gear wheel43',

which gear wheel meshes with pinion 52, which pinion is rigidly securedto shaft carrying the 'gear wheel 42. Gear wheel 42 meshes with pinion53,;which is-rigidly secured to shaft '54, to which is "connected a fanor air brake 55. By this system ortrain ,ora

, circuit once eachsecond. The wheels 44, 43

and 42 are so intergeared that wheel 42 will rotate several times whilewheel 43 is rotating once, and wheel 43 will in turn rotateseveral timeswhile wheel 44 is rotating once. In this way the stop 41 passes end 40oflever 38 several times during the passage of one of the stops 45 onwheel 44 from one side of member 46 to the other so that whenever end 40is permitted to engage stop I 41, wheel 44 is stopped almost instantlyfrom rotation. Referring to Fig. 4, when any one of the stops 45 is inengagement with contact 46, current will flow from binding post 15, overwire 56, to binding post 9,

and from thence through the counting mechanism 5 to binding post 10.From binding post 10 the current will flow to wire 57;, to contact 46,to stop 45, wheel 44, frame 30, wire 31, and from thence through bind-.ing post 16, and wire 14 to the source of supply. The current passingthrough this cir-. cult will energize the magnets of counting signal 5and cause the hammer thereof to strike the bell or gong '4 once. Thecurrent will flow only during the time the cont-act 46 is engagingwithastop 48, and the circuit Will be broken as soon as disengaged. ,The

counter 5 issubstantially of the ordinarybell structure without anindependent gong, as clearly shown in Fig. '4. Howevenitmight be statedthat the sameis formed with an electro magnet connected with bindingposts 9 and 10 so as to attract a pivotally mounted armature to which isrigidly connect-ed a hammer. When current is caused to pass through thecoils of the electro magnet in counter 5, the same will cause the hammerthereof to strike gong 4 once, but will allow no further movement of thehammer, as there'is no make and break provided in the counter. 'As soonas the circuit to the magnet in counter 5 is broken and thenreestablished, the hammer of the counter will again strike gong 4. Aslong as thumb member 37 is held depressed, wheel 42 will remain free torotate and consequently spring 48 will cause a continuous rotation ofwheel 44 so that the stops 45 1nay successively engage contact 46. Uponeach engagement; of stops 45 with contact 46, current will pass throughthe circuit just traced and cause one stroke of the hammer of member 5upon each engagement ofcontact 46 with the stops Assuming that the stops45 engage contact which gear wheel l tis a the train of gearingassociated therewith, including wheel 41. The train of gearing of art isdriven by spring is (Fig. 2) and this spring and the train of gearingdriven thereby is not in any way connected with the clock mechanism,which mechanism is-of any usual preferred type. The members 25 and 27,shown in Figs. 2 and 4, are the only ones operated by the clockmechanism and the same are operated continuously' The connectionsbetween the clock mechanism- 2 and shaft- 26 carrying members 25 and 27,are illustrated herewith. Referring more particularly to these figures,56 is a hand or pointer secured to shaft 26 and arranged so as to appearon the face of the clock. A suitabledial may be provided over which thehand or pointer 56 will be adapted to move. Shaft 26 has rigidly securedthereto a pinion'57 which meshes with gear wheel 58. The gear wheel 58is rigidly secured to a suitable shaft 59,

which has also rigidly secured thereto a pinion 60. This pinion mesheswith a gear wheel 61 secured to the usual shaft 62 carrying theusualminutc hand 63. When shaft 26 is designed to rotate -once everyfour minutes, the gear wheels 61 and 58, and the p'inions 57 and (50,are arranged'of the proper size for providing the proper ratio betweenshaft 62 and shaft-26. When the shaft 26 is adapted to rotate faster orslower, the connecting gearing is changed accordingly This changerofgears may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The particular construction of clock mechanism does not form any part ofthe present invention, as any desired clock mechanism may be usedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention so that only certainof the mechanism has been shown to illustrate the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. In a device of the character described, a pair of electricallyoperated signal devices, a clock mechanism, a circuit for each of saidsignal devices, and means operated by said-clock mechanism for openingand closing said circuits, said means including a contact member foreach of the circuits, and a wheel for each of said contact members, saidwheels being operated by said clock mechanism at a predetermined speedand each of the wheels being formed with spaced projections, theprojections ofone of said wheels being arranged in advance of theprojection on the other wheel whereby said signal devices are caused tooperate in suc-' 2. In a device of the character described,

a main signal, apreliminary signal, a circuit for each of said signals,a switch interposed in each of'said circuits, each of said switchescomprising astationary contact member and a rotating contact member, therotating contact members of said switches having projections designed tobe moved into engagementwith said stationary contact members, saidprojections being set so as to engage said stationary contact menibersat different times whereby said preliminary signal will be operated atone time and said main signal at another time, a clock mechanism, andmeans connecting said clock mechanism with said rotating contact memberswhereby the projections on said rotating contact members will engagesaid stationary contact members at certain intervals of time and willremain in engagement with said contact members for part of theirrevolution for causing the signals to operate a predetermined length oftime and for causing a predetermined length of time to elapse betweeneach operation of said signal devices. I v

3. In a device of the character described,

a principal signal device, an auxiliary sigcontact member being formedwith a rotat-' ing shaft and a pair of disks having a plurality ofspaced projections extending therefrom adapted to engage said stationarycontacts during the rotation of said shaft whereby said circuits areclosed for a predetermined length of time upon the engagement of saidprojections with said station.- ary contacts and said circuits wil beopen for a predetermined length of time according to the distancebetween said projections and the speed of rotation of sald shaft, aclock mechanism, and means for connecting said shaft with said clockmechanism so as to rotate the same at a certain speed.

4;, In a device of the character described, a principal signal device, apreliminary signal device, and acounting signal-device, an electricalcircuit for each of said signal devices, a switch interposed in thecircuit of said principal signal device and said preliminary signaldevice, a clockwork, means for connecting said clockwork with saidswitches for causing the'same to open and close the circuits of saidprincipal signal device and said preliminary signal device at certainintervals, a switch arranged in the circuit of said counting signaldevice, said last mentioned swltch comprising a stationary 'member, arotating wheel arranged adjastationary member at certain intervals asthe wheel rotates, means for driving said wheel, and means forregulating the speed at which said wheel is rotated whereby the circuitof said counting signal device is regularly opened and closed at certainstated intervals, and manually operated means for locking said wheelagainst rotation.

5. In a device of the character described, an electrically operatedcounting signal, a circuit for said counting signal, a switch interposedin said circuit comprising a flexible fixed member, a rotatable wheeland a plurality of spaced pins mounted on said wheel and arranged so asto strike against said flexible fixed member whereby the circuit of saidcounting signal is closed at spaced intervals according to the speed ofsaid wheel, a train of gearing connected withsaid wheel, power meansconnected with said train of gearing for operating the same and a brakemechanism connected with said train of gearing for regulating the speedof said wheel whereby said projections will engage said flexible fixedmember at certain stated intervals, and a pivotally mounted manuallyoperated stop adapted to engage .one of the gears of said train ofgearing for locking the train of gearing against movement.

6. In a device of the character described, a principal signal, anelectrical circuit therefor, i an electrically operated preliminarysignal, an electrical circuit therefor, an electrically operatedcounting signal, an electrical circuit therefor, a switch for each ofsaid circuits, a clock mechanism, means for connecting the clockmechanism with the switches in said principal signal and saidpreliminary signal whereby said last mentioned signals are operated atcertain times and for certain lengths of time, a switch mechanisminterposed in the circuit of said counting signal, means for opening andclosing said last mentioned switch, and a lock for locking said lastmentioned switch against movement.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

'WILLIAM F. MINOR.

Witnesses BERNARD J. Foss, DAVID LowY.

